Arsenal's 21 loanees and how they're faring including star Arteta 'went mad' at
The international break gives Premier League managers, including Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, a chance to evaluate his squad.
The Gunners have picked up 10 points from their first four Premier League games, beating Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Manchester United but drawing to Fulham. Several players are flourishing, including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Yet Arteta also has the chance to look at loan players, with 21 stars currently completing spells away from the Emirates. That list includes established players like Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga, as well as emerging talents from the academy.
But how are those loanees faring? Here's the lowdown...
Arthur Okonkwo
The goalkeeper, who turns 22 this Saturday, joined Wrexham on deadline day following Ben Foster's sudden retirement. This is Okonkwo's third loan spell having previously played for Crewe in League Two and Austrian outfit Sturm Graz.
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Okonkwo started Wrexham's EFL Trophy clash against Newcastle last Tuesday, with more than 8,000 fans in attendance at the Racecourse. The Welsh side won the game 1-0, with Okonkwo keeping a clean sheet. Not a bad start for the Arsenal youngster.
Brian Okonkwo
The Wrexham star's younger brother Brian is also a goalkeeper. The 17-year-old completed a move to Leatherhead, who play in the Isthmian League South Central Division, on deadline day and kept a clean sheet on his debut against Horsham last Sunday.
Charlie Patino
Charlie Patino is currently on loan at Swansea (Getty Images)The 19-year-old midfielder has made significant progress since making his first-team debut for Arsenal in December 2021. He made 37 appearances during a spell at Blackpool last season and secured another Championship move to Swansea this summer.
Patino has already made four outings for Swansea, starting their last three league games. Although the Welsh club have picked up just two points this season, Patino will get plenty of priceless minutes under his belt at the Liberty Stadium (barring injury).
Kido Taylor-Hart
The England youth international, 20, completed a season-long move to National side Bromley last Monday. Taylor-Hart is a winger but can also play just behind the striker. He's yet to play for Arsenal's first-team but has made seven EFL Trophy outings.
Alex Kirk
Bromley also snapped up Kirk last Monday. The 20-year-old centre-back has already completed a spell away from the Emirates, making 24 appearances for Scottish side Ayr United last season. Yet this is his first chance in first-team English football.
Omar Rekik
The Tunisia international, 21, did well during a stint at Wigan last season and has re-joined the Lancashire club for their League One campaign. Rekik only re-signed for Wigan on deadline day, with the Latics next in action against Cambridge on September 16.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Albert Sambi Lokonga is yet to make his debut for Luton (Getty Images)The 23-year-old midfielder has struggled since joining Arsenal from Anderlecht two years ago, spending part of last season on loan at Palace. Lokonga completed a move to Luton on deadline day and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Butler-Oyedeji was another player to temporary leave the Emirates on deadline day. The 20-year-old striker joined League One side Cheltenham and made his debut in their 2-0 home defeat to Barnsley last Saturday, coming on in the 64th minute.
Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand
The 20-year-old midfielder, who was signed from Feyenoord's academy, has made Arteta's bench several times without playing. He joined Dutch second-tier side Den Bosch just before the window closed and could make his debut against Cambuur on Saturday.
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Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney was axed by Arteta (Getty Images)Tierney, 26, was axed by Arteta this summer and it seems unlikely he'll play for Arsenal again with the Spaniard at the helm. The Scotland international secured a move to Real Sociedad in August and started their 5-3 win against Granada last Saturday.
Mika Biereth
Biereth, who spent part of last season at Dutch side RKC Waalwijk, has joined Motherwell on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old striker made an immediate impact in the Scottish Premiership, scoring and providing assist in their 2-1 win against Hibernian last month. Yet Biereth has suffered a knee injury and is expected to be out until December.
Billy Vigar
Vigar, 19, isn't a household name at the Emirates and will try to prove his worth during his spell at National League South side Eastbourne Borough. The teenage forward has made a steady start on the seaside, scoring once in six appearance.
Hubert Graczyk
Graczyk, 20, was the first loanee to return to the Emirates after his stint with non-league side Slough Town was cut short in August. The goalkeeper played four games, conceding eight times. He did keep a clean sheet in their 3-0 win against Weston-Super-Mare, though.
Nuno Tavares
Nuno Tavares has joined Nottingham Forest after impressing at Marseille last season (Getty Images)Tavares, 23, is another left-back to be frozen out by Arteta. He's joined Forest on loan with a £12million option to buy, and it's now up to him to prove he's got what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. He came on during Forest's 1-0 win at Chelsea last Saturday.
Henry Jeffcott
The 19-year-old left-back is currently at Derby but isn't playing first-team football. He's failed to make the bench for any of their League One games and has made three appearances in the Premier League 2. Jeffcott may need to be patient.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy
North-Cuffy joined Millwall in August. Despite being just 19, it's the fourth loan spell of the right-back's career after stints at Lincoln, Rotherham and Coventry. He's already started twice for Millwall and, interestingly, is playing on the wing.
Tyreece John-Jules
John-Jules is another young striker who's experienced several loan spells away from the Emirates - representing Lincoln, Doncaster, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich. The 22-year-old is now at Derby and has made two substitute appearances so far.
Marquinhos
Marquinhos has struggled for minutes at Arsenal (Getty Images)The 20-year-old Brazilian joined Arsenal from Sao Paulo a year ago but has made just one Premier League appearance to date. Arteta was visibly annoyed with him during a game against Bodo/Glimt last season, berating him for failing to support Fabio Vieira in attack and going mad at with him on the touchline.
Marquinhos spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Norwich but is playing for Ligue 1 side Nantes this time around. He's made three substitute appearances for his new club but is still waiting for his first goal.
Mauro Bandeira
Bandeira, 19, was on the bench for Arsenal's last two Premier League games of the 2022/23 campaign but joined Colchester on a season-long in July to get some minutes under his belt. He's made six appearances to date, with two of those being starts.
Catalin Cirjan
The Romanian youth international, 20, has returned to his homeland to spend the season at Rapid Bucuresti. Cirjan featured in their first five league games but was left on the bench for their last three. He is an attacking midfielder by trade but can also play up front.
Runar Alex Runarsson
The 28-year-old goalkeeper joined Arsenal in the summer of 2020 but spent the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns out on loan after failing to make the grade at the Emirates. He joined Cardiff in the summer and has played twice, conceding four goals.
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